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What are the major different styles of unglazed pottery making in India?


The unglazed pottery is the oldest form of pottery practised in India, which has developed with time, offering a wide range to people. The unglazed variety is also a finer version.

Most of the discovered unglazed pieces have combinations of black and red colouring. Most commonly, black and red pottery vessels have a red interior and a black exterior.

There are basically three types of unglazed pottery:

  • Paper thin pottery:

            In this, biscuit coloured pottery is decorated with incised patterns. This paper thin pottery is called `kagzi', produced in Kutch, Kanpur, Alwar and in many other Northern parts of the country.


  • Scrafito technique: 

            In this type, sometimes posts are also painted with red and white slips alongwith intricate patterns, while outline is incised.
Highly polished pottery The third category is of highly polished pottery, which is given strong, deeply incised and stylised patterns of arabesques.

The unglazed pottery is practised throughout the country, with each region having its own speciality.

Black pottery is yet another form of unglazed pottery, which resembles the Harappan pottery style (Painted Grey Ware Culture)

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